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Arsenic and Metabolic Studies

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In vivo studies investigated the role of arsenite and high fat diet in the metabolic profile in an outbred strain of mice, Swiss Webster. Of relevance to human arsenic exposures, groups of mice were treated with arsenic in utero and post-natally.

Relevance to SWEHSC:

In vivo studies investigated the role of arsenite and high fat diet in the metabolic profile in an outbred strain of mice, Swiss Webster. Of relevance to human arsenic exposures, groups of mice were treated with arsenic in utero and post-natally.

Cluster of Efforts:

Investigators:

Todd Camenisch, PhD

Yin Chen, PhD

Milestones:

Male mice exposed to arsenic in utero and also post-natally were relatively hyperglycemic when evaluating glucose and 1,5-anhydroglucose. In contrast, the lipid profile of these mice had elevated levels of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate, indicative of dysregulated nutrient sensing often found in diabetic patients. Overall, in utero arsenic exposure appeared to predispose mice to metabolic disorder. A hypothesis that will be further pursued in future grant submissions.

The gut microbiome of mice exposed to arsenic in utero and post-natally was also evaluated in Swiss Webster mice by the Chen laboratory. Arsenic significantly decreased Clostridium coccoides, a universal gut commensal bacterial strain. Interestingly, the bacterial decrease was more prevalent in male than female mice.

The Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (P30 ES006694) is a Unit of the Center for Toxicology, at the College of Pharmacy, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. We also acknowledge the people – past, present, and future – of the Tohono O'odham Nation, on whose traditional lands we study and work.